“Okay. Thanks, man.”
“Any time,” he said, clamping a hand on my shoulder then making his way toward the door.
“New phone,” Emilio said, passing me a box for a burner. “Just to hold you over. That’s my number on it. Once you text me, I will send you a list of everyone else you need to have for the time being. We’ll get your phone back as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Milo,” I said, taking the phone and watching him follow the boss out.
“I was thinking,” Brio said, making his way over to me.
“If it’s torture plans, my fucking head is banging, man, I’m not in the mood.”
“Nah, man. Been thinking about Christmas presents.”
“Okay…”
“You get one for her yet?”
“For Steph? No.” Should I have?
“Just saying, lots of good dogs in the shelter who’d like a home for the holiday. And dogs make good buddies during a recovery.”
“I will give it some thought and let you know.”
“I’ll throw in all the shit to go with it for free. They got big ones, small ones, fluffy ones, old ones, puppies, you name it.”
“I got a feeling if I don’t give you a direction, you’re gonna show up at her door with whatever you want then.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“I will feel around for what kind. Know her friends got a French Bulldog she loves. Maybe I’ll ask them what she might want.”
“Get on it quick.”
“Will do.”
I watched him leave, shaking my head, wondering how someone with such a bloodlust could be such an animal lover.
I mean, I heard a story that he’d once heard about some big dog-fighting ring where the perpetrators got slaps on the wrist. He’d been so enraged, he taken several of them into his little torture room, chained ‘em around the necks like dogs and made them fight. Then once the lesson was learned, he went ahead and killed them anyway. Because ‘there’s some kinda sick you just can’t fix.’
The door opened and Cosimo came back in. “Got a driver waiting out front for you. Take your time, but he’s keeping it warm.”
“Thanks, Cos.”
He shrugged that off and headed back out.
“We’re all set here,” Salvatore said from the exam room doorway. “Got your kit, meds included. And I’m gonna need an address to come to check her feet tomorrow.”
“Thanks so much, Salvatore,” Steph said, looking suddenly worn out.
“Don’t gotta thank me. Just stay off your damn feet.”
“But I have cushions now,” she said, waving down to her bandaged feet. “I know, I know,” she said when Sal shot her a look. “Sit on my ass and be catered to.”
“Exactly,” he agreed. “I’ll carry the kit out if you’ll carry the patient.”
“I would say you don’t have to carry me,” Steph said when I got close. “But I’m pretty sure Salvatore will have a conniption if I don’t let myself be carried around.”
“I don’t mind,” I assured her, lifting her up into my arms. “How you feeling?”
